Guardian Chimera

T'ang dynasty (618-906 AD)

This chimera, a tomb guardian figure, was made 1500 years ago in the T'ang Dynasty. Notice the chimera's hooves and wings. These mythical figures are a combination of different animal and human forms, which gave them special powers to protect the ancestors. This statue was brightly painted with black and red pigment, and was much more colorful than it looks today.